Hi ozb fam. Just bought a new mazda cx-5 and was quoted 1.1k for protektiv ext. paint protection and tinting pack by the dealer. Opted for it as it seemed reasonable. Just read online about ming moll etc and why to strictly avoid them. However further research shows getting them individually done elsewhere costs the same if not higher. And yes, i'd like to have some sort of paint protection as it is easier to clean the car. What do u suggest i must do, cancel and get it done by elsewhere? Would you suggest of where i can get better deal on a professional paint protection nd tinting. Sorry if this has been already discussed. Thanks much :-)
Seeking Advice: CX-5 Exterior Paint Protection & Tinting
LBig Deal on 12/06/2019 - 02:21
Comments
There's a world of difference in paint protection and tints. Paint protection sold by dealers can be anything from a synthetic wax (that needs to be reapplied every year but they don't tell you that upfront, it's in the fine print) to one of the modern permanently bonded ceramic coatings.
I could write pages on the subject (warning, this may end up a wall of text) but personally I don't see the value in any of them. The synthetic wax is something you can DIY. I did my own car just last weekend. Costs about $30 for a bottle of the stuff I use and a couple of hours of time. These are definitely worth it when you DIY but absolutely not worth the hundreds of dollars dealers typically charge. These last around 12 months typically and help provide some UV and chemical contaminant protection but will do zero to protect against scratches as they're often claimed or even more ridiculously help prevent rock chips.
Permanent ceramic coatings provide similar protection as the temporary sealants. They won't help with scratches, rock chips, door dings etc. They do however typically look better and they are permanent. However, the reason they look better is due to the paint correction the applicator does before applying the product. This is essentially a polishing process to get the paint looking it's best. My issue with this is that polishing process is an abrasive process. They're removing the surface of the paint to get it as smooth as possible and therefore as glossy as possible. The problem there if it's not obvious is they're removing some of the paint, an already thin layer is being further thinned. In addition modern clear coats provide basically all of the UV protection for the paint and most of that is at the very surface where it's needed (in simple terms the UV protectants are designed to migrate to the surface as the paint cures because that's where they do the most good). So not only are you removing some of the paint you're removing proportionally more of the UV protection.
Most modern production cars the paint is going to be under 150 micron thick, probably under 100. That's for typically 3 coats, the primer, the base/colour and the clear (there are of course exceptions). The clear coat is likely between 20 - 40 microns. That's not much to work with. So someone comes along and removes maybe 25% of it. Sure it looks slightly better but you've given up a lot. Then they apply this ceramic coating that's somewhere around 2 - 5 microns thick, probably less than the amount they've removed. It does add back UV protection but really, that's it.
Full disclosure I work for a coatings manufacturer. This is all based upon my own experience of being a "car guy" for 30 years and having spoken to our chemists and technical people. We have of course evaluated all of these products. These coatings aren't magic like some would have you believe. They have their pros and cons but as one of our techs put it to me "If these were really any good and provided all of the benefits they claim and had no downside, don't you think we'd be making our own version? We're certainly more than capable of it."
So FWIW my opinion, forget the fancy coatings. Wash your car regularly. Apply a sealant at least annually or a wax at least every 6 months and use one of the modern hydrophobic top up coatings every wash or at least every other wash. It's way cheaper than any of the coatings, provides equal protection and the only down side is it takes a little of your time.
Which company do you work for or which product do you recommend?
How do you guys compare to Nanolex?
I'd rather not say as I'm not here to represent the company. We don't produce any car care products currently. Are automotive products are aimed more at the OEM and professional users.
Personally on my own vehicles I've switched mostly to using Bowdens Own range. Quality products, Aust owned etc and readily available. There are some more specialised products that I use for certain things but that's largely personal preference.
I know who and where you work. My lips are sealed.
Yes it's a small world.
Get window tints done yourself externally. Skip the paint protection. Not worth the money. Lots of similar posts to this on ozbargain over the years if you do a search - it’s a common question which comes up regularly.
Dealership price of after sales add-ons = premium prices for cheapest products.
Always refuse to talk to anyone while the "contract is being drawn up". They always drag unsuspecting customers through the financing team and aftersales "lady". If those products made a sweeter deal, they would be talking to you first.
Nah nah, you talk to the aftersales "lady", get a free perv, and then you can say no.
All the aftersales "ladies" were late 50s to "why aren't you retired yet", inch long fake nails.
The bombshells are front centre stage.
Sorry, should have said the upsell lady, not aftersales.
The lady who sells the finance and paint protection at the dealership that I bought my car from was very fine indeed. And yes unfortunately she managed to upsell me the paint protection/tint/leather protection etc, but I think it was a misunderstanding. After she finished talking I think she misunderstood me when I said I would "like some of that".
@AdosHouse: My wife goes with me when I buy cars.
I'm sure she doesn't mind the "sales strategy" and more about me going to the right showroom and buying a practical car.
I always thought the 911GT2 RS screams family at 7,000RPM peak power.
ceramic coating itself is between 1 to 2k and tints around $400. So not a bad price to be honest.
I got ceramic coating done on my car (opticoat+) and love it. To wash the car, blast with hose then leaf blower to dry, done in 5min. Car looks permanently waxed. Totally worth it IMO
How much was Opticoat for you car and what size was it if you don't mind me asking
Everyone is different, mine was ex demo and black so had light swirl marks all over. Subaru STI, got a good price low $1k including full polish/prep swirl mark removal before ceramic coating applied. Also had windows done, at 80kph and above in the rain, I dont use the wipers.
Sounds like a good price considering good quality product, swirl removal and glass treatment.
You're not getting that from the dealership PP. Fat chance.
@[Deactivated]: Dealer might just outsource to a protektiv installer. Might be ok(?)
Happy with Opticoat, no swirl marks on my black car a year later, still looks waxed and new.
I had similar issues a couple of years back as wanted to protect the paint and finish on the wife's new car but couldn't justify the exorbitant cost quoted by the dealer. I was promised all kinds of warranties but can you really trust any of these?
I did some research and spoke to a few independents who specialise in this line of work. I was recommended to buy 'Toughseal DIY Paint Protection'.
The basic message was if I was fit and able then it would be easy to do myself otherwise I could pay them several hundred dollars and they would do it for me.I managed to get the product using a discounting promotion voucher on Ebay and I have to say it worked a treat.
Just like Karate Kid training it was a simple case of wax on wax off.If you have the time and patience then certainly the most cost effective way to go.
I don't know where you live, but there is a company in Perth called Mad Inc, it's the only coating i'd get done on my car.
Tint is always just done at tint-a-car.
Nothing you get at a car dealership (car included) is a good deal.
Hmmm, I have 20 years paint protection and 20 years darkest legal tint warranty, don’t need to see them and get it checked for $35 a time a year. When ever I feel it isn’t working well, I can put in a warranty claim and they check it out and get it reapplied for at $0 extra. I also got interior warranty. If I spill milk or something I can’t get rid of by water and cloth. They clean it out including odours. $0 every claim. I can’t say how much exactly but it was about $1000-$2000. I think my car is worth it. I love my car a lot. I don’t want to spend hours on it….and 20 years someone else doing it for me….that’s a lot of years. I can wash my car in 10 minutes. But I think that’s normal.
What I really learnt is…clean bird poo within 24 hours. Clean car one a month with ph balanced shampoo.
If I didn’t get warranty….I wouldn’t have done this. But I am glad I was told to do it.
The bad thing is, under agreement, I need to do this. But the good thing is, I am motivated more to clean my car.Tinting my old car, it bubbled about 13 years later. Car paint after 15 years was still good…only let the rain washed my car really. White car. I didn’t care much before to clean the car. Inside wasn’t cleaned much at all. Still was ok. Only smelled after rain where the water Went on the carpet mats.
So darkest legal tint looks so nice. And more privacy and reduce heat, yes it works to reduce heat as I found out.
But uv…some windows are built with uv protection. I found out looking at writing on my windows. It said uv protection on glass.I don’t regret getting paint protection, tint and interior warranty.
I know I am paying a lot of money for after market stuff from dealers. It’s also mostly for their service, not products. But up to about $100 a year for 15 years even…that’s ok to me. They fix it when ever it needs to be done for a service for 15-20 years…
Pretty good price for 1100, usually 1100 will just get you the exterior protected. Had mine done for 1400, but that was interior and exterior. Will get my tints done soon, thinking of https://www.windowtintingsydney.info/, has anyone tried? Was quoted $300 for all windows, i've got a bmw 118i
Of course you can shop around for better prices. You've just got to ask yourself whether the time and hassle is worth it compared to going with the dealership's package.
I can suggest Final Finish in Brunswick to arrange for both of those services, but you can pick any decent detailer and a mobile tinter. The cost of ceramic/nano protection shouldn't vary too much place to place, but it's a different story if the paint needs correction (unlikely but possible).